Albert's Winter

In Albert's world, playfulness and seriousness go hand in hand. His mother is suffering from cancer, but he'd prefer not to talk about it or about the grief it causes. As an 8-year-old, he also has other things to think about, such as the singing test at Sankt Annæ school, which will determine if he will be accepted next year, or the worries about losing ones playmates if one changes schools. But the film also depicts the small and large moments of happiness, such as being dressed up as a carrot or to see ones grandfather defy the temperatures and jump into the ice-cold winter sea. Albert's winter is Andreas Koefoed's graduation film from the documentary department at the National Film School of Denmark, and it demonstrates the director's fine eye for the subtle moments of everyday life and for Albert - a gem of a protagonist, who thinks about things and dares to say what grown-ups don't want to talk about. With his observing, poetic style, Koefoed lets the cold and grey nature of winter seep trough the images. Just like the film's family, the audience is left looking forward to springtime.